Synopsis
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous "Piltdown Man," purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.
Ensemble member Eric Simonson recently completed a documentary on the late Studs Terkel for HBO. Simonson received a Tony® nomination for his direction of Steppenwolf's The Song of Jacob Zulu with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and directed an Oscar®-nominated documentary about the acclaimed South African singing group. Simonson received an Oscar® for Best Documentary Short for his film A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin in 2006. Other directing credits at Steppenwolf include Carter’s Way (also playwright), Slaughterhouse-Five (also adaptor) and Nomathemba (Hope).
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Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Piltdown Man
credit: Mark Campbell
Piltdown Man on the Town
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble members Alan Wilder and Kate Arrington with Larry Yando
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Ensemble members Alan Wilder and Kate Arrington with Larry Yando
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Ensemble members Eric Simonson, Alan Wilder, Kate Arrington and Francis Guinan with Coburn Goss and Larry Yando
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Larry Yando with ensemble member Kate Arrington
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Ensemble member Kate Arrington with Larry Yando
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Ensemble members Eric Simonson and Francis Guinan
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Ensemble members Alan Wilder and Francis Guinan
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Ensemble members Alan Wilder and Francis Guinan with Larry Yando and Coburn Goss
credit: Mark Campbell
Fake in Rehearsal
In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Ensemble member Alan Wilder with Larry Yando and ensemble member Kate Arrington
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble members Francis Guinan and Kate Arrington with Coburn Goss
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Coburn Goss with ensemble members Kate Arrington and Francis Guinan
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble members Alan Wilder and Kate Arrington
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Larry Yando and Coburn Goss with ensemble members Kate Arrington and Alan Wilder
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble members Alan Wilder and Kate Arrington with Larry Yando
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Coburn Goss with ensemble members Kate Arrington and Alan Wilder
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble member Kate Arrington with Coburn Goss
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Coburn Goss with ensemble members Kate Arrington and Alan Wilder with Larry Yando
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble member Kate Arrington
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble member Francis Guinan with Coburn Goss
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Ensemble members Francis Guinan and Alan Wilder
credit: Michael Brosilow
Fake in Production
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.The Handsome Devilz cover The Smiths
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Guests guess the fake Steppenwolf posters
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Guests explore artifacts from the Field Museum
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Guests enjoy the EXPLORE event
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Guests enjoy the EXPLORE event
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Guests enjoy the EXPLORE event
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Representatives from event co-host The Onion
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.The Handsome Devilz cover The Smiths
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Guests enjoy food from the Meatloaf Bakery
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Guests enjoy the EXPLORE event
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Adam Webster, Artistic Director of the Side Project and guest enjoy the EXPLORE event
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Director of Artistic Development Polly Carl with Peter Alter of the Chicago History Museum and Robert Marting of the Field Museum
credit: Mark Campbell
EXPLORE: The World of Fake
Steppenwolf co-hosted a party with The Onion, with food from the Meatloaf Bakery. Guests enjoyed a conversation with curators from the Field and Chicago History museums, explored artifacts from the Field Museum and Steppenwolf archives and listened to the musical stylings of The Handsome Devilz.Eric Simonson on Scenic Design for fake
Ensemble member, playwright and director Eric Simonson discusses the importance of the scenic design for fake with Associate Artistic Director David New.The Significance of Piltdown Man
In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous "Piltdown Man," purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.Cast & Artists
The Artists
- Directed by: ensemble member Eric Simonson
- Author:ensemble member Eric Simonson
- Scenic Design: Todd Rosenthal
- Costume Design: Karin Kopischke
- Lighting Design: Joe Appelt
- Sound Design: Barry G. Funderburg
- Original Music: Barry G. Funderburg
- Stage Manager: Michelle Medvin
- Assistant Stage Manager: Kathleen Petroziello
Featured Ensemble Members
The Cast
Program Articles
Ensemble Member Eric Simonson’s play Fake draws upon historical figures, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Artistic Director Martha Lavey explores the question of authenticity in Fake
I've always liked to think too much, or so I’ve been told.
Fake is about the discovery of the "Piltdown Man" skull in 1914 England and the subsequent proof that it was a hoax four decades later in 1953.
Is it possible that Charles Dawson, an amateur archeologist, discovered one of the most important finds of the 20th century?
Associate Artistic Director David New sits down with Playwright and Director Eric Simonson about his new play Fake.